“Usually defense is our bread and butter,” second-year Eagles coach Josh Spaniol said after the loss to the Cadets. “I don’t think we’ve allowed six goals in a game in two years.”

Still, Spaniol wasn’t upset with the Eagles’ performance against St. Thomas Academy. They led for long stretches of the game and repeatedly used their speed to create breakaways and other prime scoring chances.

Hub Prediction

With a solid corps of defenseman, a veteran goaltender with state tournament experience in Nick Heimer and a group of forwards with speed to burn, the Eagles have all the elements required in a section champion. They also played an ambitious schedule that should pay dividends right about now.

Bracket Buster

The Scarlets gave top-seeded Rochester Lourdes a scare on Jan. 11 in Rochester, scoring twice in the third period before losing 3-2. State goal-scoring leader Ville Rantanen (48) will assuredly give opposing defenses fits.